Vibrating apparatus utilizing a liquid as eccentric weight means



Aug. 7, 1956 G. D. BECKER VIBRATING APPARATUS UTILIZING A LIQUID ASECCENTRIC WEIGHT MEANS Filed Oct. 4, 1954 United States Patent VIBRATINGAPPARATU UTILIZING A LIQUID AS ECCENTRIC WEIGHT MEANS George D. Becker,Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to Allis- Chalmers Manufacturing Company,Milwaukee, Wis.

Application October 4, 1954, Serial No. 459,940

4 Claims. (Cl. 74-87) The present invention relates generally tovibrating apparatus in which a centrifugal force is created and utilizedto impart a vibratory movement to the apparatus.

In vibrating apparatus of this type a rotatable shaft is journaled in aresiliently mounted body such as a vibrating screen, or a vibrating ballmill, and eccentrical- 1y positioned weight means or masses associatedwith the shaft create a centrifugal force when the shaft is rotated. Ifthe eccentric weights are rigidly connected to the shaft the centrifugalforce is transmitted to the vibratable body of the apparatus through thebearings in which the shaft is journaled.

The specific type of such apparatus to which the present inventionpertains is apparatus in which the shaft is provided with means forcausing the eccentric weights to move in a circular path but theeccentric Weights are not rigidly connected to the shaft. Prior artapparatus of this type includes a cylindrically shaped casing attachedto the vibratable body and arranged concentrically of the shaft. Thecylindrical casing defines an enclosed chamber and disposed in thechamber are eccentrically positioned weights which may be balls orrollers. Attached to the shaft is an impeller which, upon rotation ofthe shaft, engages the balls or rollers so as to cause the balls orrollers to move in a circular path. The centrifugal force acting on theballs or rollers is transmitted through the cylindrical casing to thevibratable body of the apparatus and a vibratory motion is therebyimparted to the vibratable body. No part of the centrifugal forcecreated by the movement of the balls or rollers in a circular path istransmitted through the bearings in which the shaft is journaled.

With prior art vibratory apparatus of the type referred to the balls orrollers comprising the eccentrically positioned weights are caused bycentrifugal force to engage the internal surface of the cylindricalcasing with great force. The friction thereby incurred is appreciableand the resulting heat generated and the resulting wear to the balls orrollers represent serious disadvantage. Noisiness in operation isanother disadvantage of the apparatus.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved vibratory apparatus of the type referred to in which thefriction between the eccentrically positioned weight means and thesurface which causes the weight means to travel in a circular path issubstantially reduced. With reduced friction the wear on the weightmeans and the heat generated are corresponding- 1y less and these areother objects of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide vibratory apparatus of thetype referred to in which the amplitude of vibration thereof can bevaried easily and accurately.

Another object is to provide vibratory apparatus of the type referred tohaving eccentrically positioned weight means which cooperate quietlywith the surface which restrains and causes the weight means to travelin a circular path.

Other objects will become apparent from the following Patented Aug. 7,1956 detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawingwhich shows one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the longitudinal axis of avibrating ball mill embodying the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line II-II of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, a vibratable body which is illus trated as acylindrically shaped container 10 is shown suspended by cables 11 from astationary overhead supporting structure 12. Resilient means such assprings 13 are provided between cables 11 and supporting structure 12 toallow container 10 to have a vibrational movement relative to supportingstructure 12.

Container 10 has annularly shaped end walls 14 and 15. Material inletand discharge openings 16 and 17 are provided at opposite ends ofcontainer 10. Also provided at opposite ends of container it) arecoaxially arranged bearing housings 20 and 21 which are attached to endwalls 14 and 15 as by welding. Bearings 22 and 23, in which a shaft 24is journaled, are mounted in bearing housings 20 and 21, the axis ofshaft 24 being coincident with the longitudinal axis of container 10.Bearing housings 20 and 21 are provided with outward walls 30 and 31 andinward walls 32 and 33. Suitable sealing means 34, 35, 36 and 37 may beprovided between shaft 24 and bearing housing walls 31 31, 32 and 33, respectively.

Surrounding shaft 24 and extending between container end walls 14 and 15is a cylindricaly shaped casing or tube 40. As illustrated herein tube40, in conjunction with bearing housing walls 32 and 33, shaft 24 andsealing means 36 and 37, comprise casing means that defines a fluidtight chamber 41 which is coaxial relative to the axis of shaft 24.

An impeller 42 is disposed in chamber 41 and is attached as by keying toshaft 24 for rotation therewith. A predetermined quantity or mass of aliquid, which serves as an eccentrically positioned weight 43, isdisposed in fluid tight chamber 41. Rotation of shaft 24 causes impeller42 to impel the eccentrically positioned mass of liquid 43 in a circularpath about the axis of shaft 24 within chamber 41. The centrifugal forceacting on the mass of liquid 43 is transmitted radially through tube 40to the vibratable container 10 and a vibratory motion is therebyimparted to container 10.

Impeller 42 may be of various shapes within the scope of the invention.As illustrated herein impeller 42 has a generally cylindrical shape withan axially extending trough or channel 44 formed in the external.surface there of. The liquid material 43 is disposed in the trough 44and upon rotation of impeller 42 the liquid material 43 in trough 44 iscaused to move in a circular path. The surface which defines trough 44extends in a longitudinal direction into closely spaced relation to theinner walls 32 and 33 of bearing housings 20 and 21. The leading andtrailing surface portions of the surface which defines trough 44 extendin a generally radial direction into closely spaced relation to theinner surface of tube 40.

Impeller 42 may be balanced in a variety of Ways and as illustratedherein the impeller is balanced by the formation of an enclosed cavity45 in impeller 42 which is positioned diametrically oposite trough 44.The balancing of impeller 42 prevents vibrational forces from beingtransmitted from shaft 24 to bearings 22 and 23.

Mercury, by virtue of its large specific gravity, is a very satisfactoryliquid for use with the apparatus described because the spacerequirement for accommodating it in chamber 41 is correspondingly small.

The exact quantity of liquid to be used for a particular installationembodying the invention is of course dependent upon the amplitude ofvibration desired. A particular advantage of the invention in thisrespect is that the amplitude. of vibration of the apparatus may bevvaried easilyand accurately by changingthe quantityof liquid disposed inthe trough 44 of impeller 42.

During operation of the mechanism the. centrifugal force. acting on theeccentrically disposed. mass of liquid 43 in trough 44 causes the liquidto be forced' radially outwardly so that there is no tendency for theliquid to escape through sealing means. 3.4, 35, 36 and 37 whileimpeller 42 is rotating. It is therefore contemplated that an. operativemechanism can be constructed in which the sealing means are. omitted.

A motor 50 mounted on a stationary support 51 is pro.-

vided for driving shaft 24 ofthe mill. As. the container of the mill isvibratable relative tornotor 50, a flexible coupling 52 is providedbetween shaft 53 of the motor and shaft 24 of the mill.

While only one embodiment of the invention is described and illustratedherein, it is to be understood other embodiments. and modifications ofthe invention may be made and used without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired totsecure by Letters Patent:

1. Vibrating apparatus comprising a vibratable body adapted to beresiliently mounted for vibrational movement relative to a stationarysupport, a cylinder attached to said vibratable body, bearing meansoperably attached to saidvibratable body, a rotatable shaft journled insaid bearings, a shaft disposed coaxially within said cylinder andjournaled in said bearings for rotation relative to said cylinder, meansdisposed Within said cylinder freely movable relative to said shaft andsaid cylinder, and an impeller disposed within said cylinder andattached to said shaftfor pushing said means around the. innerperipheral surface of said cylinder to impart a vibratory movement tosaid vibratable body.

2. Vibrating apparatus comprising a vibratable. body adapted to beresiliently mounted for vibrational movement relative to a stationarysupport, a cylinder attached to. said vibratable body, bearing meansoperably attached to said vibratable body, a rotatable shaft journaledin said bearings, a shaft being disposed coaxially within. said cylinderand journaled in said bearings for rotation relativ to said cylinder, aliquid material disposed in said cylinder, sealing means disposedbetween said cylinder and said shaft to confine said liquid within saidcylinder, and an impeller disposed within said cylinder and at:

4 tached tovsaid shaft for pushing said liquid material around the innerperipheral surface of said cylinder to impart a vibratory movement tosaid vibratable body.

3. Vibrating apparatus comprising a vibratable body adapted to beresiliently mounted for vibrational movement relative to a stationarysupport, a cylinder attached to said vibratable body, bearing meansoperably attached tosaid vibratable body, a rotatable shaft journaled.in said bearings, a shaft disposed coaxially within said cylinder andjournaled in said bearings for rotation relative to said cylinder, aportion of mercury disposed in said cylinder, sealing means disposedbetween said cylinder and said shaft to confine said mercury within saidcylinder, and an impeller disposed within said cylinder and attached tosaid shaft for pushing said mercury around the inner peripheral surfaceof said cylinder to impart a vibratory movement to said vibratable body.

4. Vibrating apparatus comprising a vibratable body adapted to beresiliently mounted for vibrational; movement relative to a stationarysupport, a cylinder attached to said vibratable body, bearing meansoperably attached to said vibratable body, a rotatable shaft journled insaid bearings, a shaft being disposed coaxially within said cylinder andjournaled in said bearings for rotation relative to said cylinder, aliquid material disposed in said cylinder, sealing means disposedbetween said cylinder and. said shaft to enclose said cylinder andconfine. said liquid within said cylinder, and an impellerdisposedwithin said cylinder and attached to said shaft for pushing saidliquid material around the inner peripheral surface of said cylinder toimpart a vibratory movement to said vibratable body, said impellerhaving a surface portion for engaging said liquid material which extendsradially and longitudinally of said shaft into closely spacedsealingrelation to the internal surfaces of said. enclosed cylinder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,459,841 Mitchell .a June 26, 1 923 2,218,818 Stoltzfus Aug. 27, 192,292,275 Kiesskalt Aug. 4, 1942. 2,298,015 Lincoln Oct. 6, 19422,653,769 Hall Sept. 29; 195.3 2,703,490 Brueggman et al. Mar. 8, 5

FOREIGN PATENTS 45,711 Netherlands Apr. 16, 1939

